Dental bridges come in all shapes and sizes.

There’s no need to put up with that hollow-cheeked look that accompanies missing teeth. Here’s how to sort the problem.

There’s simply no accounting for taste! How else can you explain the huge level of interest that we had in response to yesterday’s blog on the topic of dental bridges. We genuinely had no idea that there was so much pent-up demand out there for information on this topic.

In response to a large number of queries we received as to what types of bridge are available on the market, we’re happy to oblige in this blog.

But first, a quick recap on the essence of a bridge – and how it works.

A dental bridge (also referred to as a tooth bridge) is a form of dental restoration that’s commonly used by dentists around the world to replace a missing tooth (or teeth) by joining a fabricated tooth to the neighbouring teeth – or possibly to dental implants.

No two mouths are exactly the same, however, so it follows that there will be a number of different types of bridge in use, which differ in the manner of their fabrication, and also in terms of how they are anchored to the neighboruing teeth.

We don’t want to go into too much technical detail, but for the purposes of this blog, here are the most frequently occuring forms of dental bridge:

• Traditional. This is the most most common bridge that you’ll come across, and it’s been very popular with our MyDental patients over the years. As a general rule, it’s made of ceramics, but you’ll also find the odd porcelain model out there. Under the traditional model, your dentist will make a crown for the teeth on either side of the missing tooth. This is a very robust and long-lasting treatment, and you can confidently expect your traditional bridge to last you a lifetime

• Cantilever. This is another iteration of the dental bridge that is relatively common. It tends to be used when there are adjacent teeth on one side of the missing tooth – but not on the other. It tends not to be used all that often in back teeth, as it can apply a lot of force to other teeth, with potentially harmful consequences.

• Maryland. The Maryland is a little more complex than the Maryland and the Traditional bridges, as it involves your dentist fitting a form of scaffold to make sure that the replacement tooth is fixed tightly and securely to the neighbouring teeth.

It sounds expensive – is that the case?

There’s no doubting the fact that a tooth bridge involves quite a bit of work on the part of your dentist. But here at MyDental, we’ve streamlined the process to such an extent that dental bridges are now more affordable than ever. And remember that it con’t cost you a cent in interest if you choose to spread the cost over 3, 6 or 9 months with our 0% Dental Finance Plan.

Laura Cunningham

MyDental is a full-spectrum dental practice offering the most modern and advanced treatments in functional and cosmetic dentistry. With a commitment to offering an exceptional dental service at an exceptional price, our state-of-the-art purpose-built dental clinic in Dublin 4 offers a relaxed and friendly solution to all your dental needs.

0% Dental Finance

By availing of our 0% Dental Finance, you can enjoy the highest quality dental care at equally affordable rates. You can spread the costs over three, six or nine months, offering you maximum flexibility when it comes to payment. Please ask at Reception for details.